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The user interface to FLUENT consists of a graphical interface with pull-down menus,
panels, and dialogs, as well as a textual command line interface (described in Chap-
ter 3: Text User Interface (TUI)).
• Section 2.2: Customizing the Graphical User Interface (UNIX Systems Only)
2.1.1 Console
The FLUENT Console is the main window that controls the execution of the program.
When using the Console to interact with FLUENT, you have a choice between a text user
interface (TUI) and a graphical user interface (GUI). The Console contains a terminal
emulator for the TUI and a menu bar for the GUI.
Terminal Emulator
The terminal emulator is similar in behavior to “xterm” or other UNIX command shell
tools, or to the MS-DOS Command Prompt window on Windows systems. It allows
you to interact with the TUI menu. More information on the TUI can be found in
Chapter 3: Text User Interface (TUI).
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Console
Graphics WIndow
Dialog
Panel
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All textual output from the program (e.g., error messages) is printed in the terminal
emulator, and all typing is displayed on the bottom line. As the number of text lines
grows, the lines will be scrolled off the top of the window. The scroll bar on the right
allows you to go back and look at the preceding text.
The terminal emulator accepts <Control-C> to let you interrupt the program while it
is working. It also lets you perform text copy and paste operations between the Console
and other X Window (or Windows) applications (that support copy and paste). The
following steps show you how to perform a copy and paste operation on a UNIX system:
3. Move the pointer to the end of the text (text should be highlighted).
On a Windows system, you will follow the steps below to copy text to the clipboard:
3. Move the pointer to the end of the text (text should be highlighted).
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Menu Bar
The menu bar organizes the GUI menu hierarchy using a set of pull-down menus. A
pull-down menu contains items that perform commonly executed actions. Figure 2.1.3
shows the FLUENT menu bar. Menu items are arranged to correspond to the typical
sequence of actions that you perform in FLUENT (i.e., from left to right and from top to
bottom).
To select a pull-down menu item with the mouse, follow the procedure outlined below:
3. Move the pointer to the item you wish to select and click it.
In addition to using the mouse, you can also select a pull-down menu item using the
keyboard. Each pull-down menu label or menu item contains one underlined character,
known as the mnemonic. Pressing the <Alt> key plus the mnemonic character of a pull-
down menu will display the menu. Once the pull-down menu is selected and displayed,
you can type a mnemonic character associated with an item to select that item. If at
any time you wish to cancel a menu selection while a pull-down menu is posted, you can
press the <ESC> key. For example, to display the Help menu and select the Using Help...
option, press <ALT> h, then h.
A pull-down menu item may also have an accelerator key associated with it. An accel-
erator key can be used to select a menu item without displaying the pull-down menu. If
a menu item has an associated accelerator key, the key will be shown to the right of the
item. For example, if a pull-down menu contains the item Iterate... Ctrl+I, you can select
this item by holding down the <Ctrl> key and pressing the “I” key.
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The Information dialog box is used to report some information that FLUENT thinks you
should know. Once you have read the information, you can click the OK button to close
the dialog box.
The Warning dialog box is used to warn you of a potential problem and ask you whether
or not you want to proceed with the current operation. If you click the OK button, the
operation will proceed. If you click the Cancel button, the operation will be canceled.
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The Error dialog box is used to alert you that an error that has occurred. Once you have
read the error information, you can click the OK button to close the dialog box.
The Working dialog box is displayed when FLUENT is busy performing a task. This is a
special dialog box, because it requires no action by you. It is there to let you know that
you must wait. When the program is finished, it will close the dialog box automatically.
You can, however, abort the task that is being performed by clicking the Cancel button.
The Question dialog box is used to ask you a question that requires a yes or no answer.
You can click the appropriate button to answer the question.
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File selection on Windows systems is accomplished using the standard Windows Select
File dialog box.
See documentation regarding your Windows system for further instructions on file selec-
tion.
For Unix or Linux systems, note that the appearance of the Select File dialog box will
not always be the same.
The version shown above will appear in almost all cases, but it will be different if you
are loading external data files for use in an XY plot (see the User’s Guide for more
information). In such cases, the dialog box will look like the following version.
The steps for file selection are as follows:
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Figure 2.1.5: The Select File Dialog for Unix or Linux Platforms
2. Specify the file name by selecting it in the Files list or entering it in the File text
entry box (if available) at the bottom of the dialog box. The name of this text
entry box will change depending on the type of file you are selecting (Case File,
Journal File, etc.).
Note that if you are searching for an existing file with a nonstandard ex-
i tension, you may need to modify the “search pattern” at the end of the
path in the Filter text entry box. For example, if you are reading a data
file, the default extension in the search path will be *.dat*, and only those
files that have a .dat extension will appear in the Files list. If you want
files with a .DAT extension to appear in the Files list, you can change the
search pattern to *.DAT*. If you want all files in the directory to be listed
in the Files list, enter just * as the search pattern.
3. If you are reading multiple XY-plot data files, the selected file will be added to the
list of XY File(s). You can choose another file, following the instructions above, and
it will also be added to this list. (If you accidentally select the wrong file, you can
choose it in the XY File(s) list and click the Remove button to remove it from the
list of files to be read.) Repeat until all of the desired files are in the XY File(s) list.
4. If you are writing a case, data, or radiation file, use the Write Binary Files check
box to specify whether the file should be written as a text or binary file. You can
read and edit a text file, but it will require more storage space than the same file
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Figure 2.1.6: Another Version Select File Dialog for Unix or Linux Platforms
in binary format. Binary files take up less space and can be read and written by
FLUENT more quickly.
5. Click the OK button to read or write the specified file. Shortcuts for this step are
as follows:
• If your file appears in the Files list and you are not reading an XY file, double-
click it instead of just selecting it. This will automatically activate the OK
button. (If you are reading an XY file, you will always have to click OK
yourself. Clicking or double-clicking will just add the selected file to the XY
File(s) list.)
• If you entered the name of the file in the File text entry box, you can press
the <RETURN> key instead of clicking the OK button.
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2.1.3 Panels
Panels are used to perform more complicated input tasks. Similar to a dialog box, a
panel is displayed in a separate window, but working with a panel is more akin to filling
out a form. Each panel is unique and employs various types of input controls that make
up the form. The types of controls you will see are described further in this section.
When you have finished entering data in a panel’s controls, you will need to apply the
changes you have made, or cancel the changes, if desired. For this task, each panel falls
into one of two behavioral categories, depending on how it was designed.
The first category of panels is used in situations where it is desirable to apply the changes
and immediately close the panel. This type of panel includes two button controls as
described below:
OK applies any changes you have made to the panel, then closes the panel.
Cancel closes the panel, ignoring any changes you have made.
The other category of panels is used in situations where it is desirable to keep the panel
displayed on the screen after changes have been applied. This makes it easy to quickly
go back to that panel and make more changes. Panels used for postprocessing and grid
adaption often fall into this category. This type of panel includes two button controls as
described below:
Apply applies any changes you have made to the panel, but does not close the panel.
The name of this button is often changed to something more descriptive. For
example, many of the postprocessing panels use the name Display for this button,
and the adaption panels use the name Adapt.
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All panels include the following button used to access on-line help:
Help displays information about the controls in the panel. The help information will
appear in your web browser.
Each type of input control utilized by the panels is described below. Note that the
examples shown here are for a UNIX system; if you are working on a Windows system,
your panel controls may look slightly different, but they will work exactly as described
here.
Tab
Much like the tabs on a notebook divider, tabs in panels are used to mark the different
sections into which a panel is divided. A panel that contains many controls may be
divided into different sections to reduce the amount of screen space it occupies. You can
access each section of the panel by “clicking” the left mouse button on the corresponding
tab. A click is one press and release of the mouse button.
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Button
Check Box
A check box, also referred to as a check button, is used to turn on/off an item or action
indicated by the check box label. Click the left mouse button on the check box to toggle
the state.
Radio Buttons
Radio buttons are a set of check boxes with the condition that only one can be set in the
“on” position at a time. When you click the left mouse button on a radio button, it will
be turned on, and all others will be turned off. Radio buttons appear either as diamonds
(as shown above) or as circles.
Text Entry
A text entry lets you type text input. It will often have a label associated with it to
indicate the purpose of the entry.
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An integer number entry is similar to a text entry except it allows only integer numbers
to be entered (e.g., 10, -10, 50000 and 5E4). You may find it easier to enter large integer
numbers using scientific notation. For example, you could enter 350000 or 3.5E5.
The integer number entry also has arrow buttons that allow you to easily increase or
decrease its value. For most integer number entry controls, the value will be increased
(or decreased) by one when you click an arrow button. You can increase the size of the
increment by holding down a keyboard key while clicking the arrow button. The keys
used are shown below:
A real number entry is similar to a text entry, except it allows only real numbers to be
entered (e.g., 10, -10.538, 50000.45 and 5.72E-4). In most cases, the label will show the
units associated with the real number entry.
Single-Selection List
A single-selection list contains zero or more items. Each item is printed on a separate line
in the list. You can select an item by placing the pointer over the item line and clicking
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with the left mouse button. The selected item will become highlighted. Selecting another
item will deselect the previously selected item in the list.
Many panels will also accept a double-click in order to invoke the panel action that
is associated with the list selection (see information on the panel of interest for more
details).
Multiple-Selection List
A multiple selection list is similar to a single-selection list, except it allows for more
than one selected item at a time. When you click the left mouse button on an item, its
selection state will toggle. Clicking on an unselected item will select it. Clicking on a
selected item will deselect it.
To select a range of items in a multiple-selection list, you can select the first desired item,
and then select the last desired item while holding down the <Shift> key. The first and
last items, and all the items between them, will be selected. You can also click and drag
the left mouse button to select multiple items.
There are two small buttons in the upper right corner of the multiple selection list that
accelerate the task of selecting or deselecting all the items in the list. Clicking on the
first button will select all items. Clicking on the second button will deselect all items.
Drop-Down List
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A drop-down list is a hidden single-selection list that shows only the current selection to
save space.
When you want to change the selection, follow the steps below:
3. Click the left mouse button on the item to make the selection and close the list.
If you wish to abort the selection operation while the list is displayed, you can move the
pointer anywhere outside the list and click the left mouse button.
Scale
The scale is used to select a value from a predefined range by moving a slider. The number
shows the current value. To change the value, follow one of the procedures below:
3. Move the pointer along the slider bar to change the value.
or
1. Place the pointer over the slider and click the left mouse button.
2. Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, move the slider bar left or right to change
the value.
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Printing the Contents of the Graphics Display Window (Windows Systems Only)
If you are using the Windows version of FLUENT, the graphics window’s system menu,
displayed by clicking in the upper-left corner of the graphics window, contains the usual
system commands, such as move, size, and close. Along with the system commands,
FLUENT adds three more commands to the menu for printer and clipboard support.
These commands are described below:
Copy to Clipboard places a copy of the current picture into the Microsoft Windows
clipboard. Some attributes of the copied picture can be changed using the Page
Setup panel. The size of your graphics window affects the size of the text fonts
used in the picture. For best results, experiment with the graphics window size
and examine the resulting clipboard picture using the Windows clipboard viewer.
Print... displays the Microsoft Windows Print dialog box, which enables you to send
a copy of the picture to a printer. Some attributes of the copied picture can be
changed using the Page Setup panel. Still more attributes of the final print can
be specified within the Microsoft Windows Print and Print Setup dialog boxes (see
documentation for Microsoft Windows and your printer for details).
Page Setup... displays the Page Setup panel, which allows you to change attributes of
the picture copied to the clipboard, or to a printer.
To open the Page Setup panel, select the Page Setup... menu item in the graphics display
window’s system menu.
Controls
Color allows you to specify a color or non-color picture.
Color selects a color picture.
Gray Scale selects a gray-scale picture.
Monochrome selects a black-and-white picture.
Color Quality allows you to specify the color mode used for the picture.
True Color creates a picture defined by RGB values. This assumes that your
printer or display has at least 65536 colors, or “unlimited colors”.
Mapped Color creates a picture that uses a colormap. This is the right choice
for devices that have 256 colors.
Dithered Color creates a dithered picture that uses 20 colors or less.
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Clipboard Formats allows you to choose the desired format copied to the clipboard.
The size of your graphics window can affect the size of the clipboard picture. For
best results, experiment with the graphics window size and examine the resulting
clipboard picture using the Windows clipboard viewer.
Bitmap is a bitmap copy of the graphics window.
DIB Bitmap is a device-independent bitmap copy of the graphics window.
Metafile is a Windows Metafile.
Enhanced Metafile is a Windows Enhanced Metafile.
Printer Scale % controls the amount of the page that the printed picture will cover.
Decreasing the scaling will effectively increase the margin between the picture and
the edge of the paper.
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!
! General resources
!
Fluent*geometry: +0-0
Fluent*fontList: *-helvetica-bold-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*MenuBar*fontList: *-helvetica-bold-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*XmText*fontList: *-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-*
Fluent*XmTextField*fontList: *-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-*
Fluent*foreground: black
Fluent*background: gray75
Fluent*activeForeground: black
Fluent*activeBackground: gray85
Fluent*disabledTextColor: gray55
Fluent*XmToggleButton.selectColor: green
Fluent*XmToggleButtonGadget.selectColor: green
Fluent*XmText.translations:\
#override<Key>Delete: delete-previous-character()
Fluent*XmTextField.translations:\
#override<Key>Delete: delete-previous-character()
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!
! Console resources
!
Fluent*ConsoleText.rows: 24
Fluent*ConsoleText.columns: 80
Fluent*ConsoleText.background: linen
!
! Help Viewer resources
!
Fluent*Hyper.foreground: black
Fluent*Hyper.background: linen
Fluent*Hyper.hyperColor: SlateBlue3
Fluent*Hyper*normalFont:\
*-new century schoolbook-medium-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*Hyper*hyperFont:\
*-new century schoolbook-bold-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*Hyper*texLargeFont:\
*-new century schoolbook-bold-r-normal--14-*
Fluent*Hyper*texBoldFont:\
*-new century schoolbook-bold-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*Hyper*texFixedFont:\
*-courier-bold-r-normal--12-*
Fluent*Hyper*texItalicFont:\
*-new century schoolbook-medium-i-normal--12-*
Fluent*Hyper*texMathFont:\
*-symbol-medium-r-normal--14-*
Fluent*Hyper*texSansFont:\
*-helvetica-bold-r-normal--12-*
To customize one or more of the resources for a particular user, place appropriate resource
specification lines in that user’s file $HOME/.Xdefaults or whatever resource file is loaded
by the X Window System on the user’s platform.
To customize one or more of the resources for several users at a site, place the resource
specification lines in an application defaults resource file called Fluent. This file should
then be installed in a directory such as /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults, or on SUN work-
stations, the directory may be /usr/openwin/lib/app-defaults. See documentation
regarding your platform for more information.
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To link to the User Services Center on UNIX platforms, you must first have
i installed the contents of the FLUENT Documentation CD, which contains
the files necessary to launch your browser so you can automatically view
the appropriate web pages.
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